Question/advice on my '98 Tacoma.

Greetings everyone!
I posted recently about being in need of a transfer case for my Tacoma. It gets hung in the middle of the 'J' and will not go back into gear. I crawled underneath it yesterday and I'm upset about what I found. The frame is badly rusted is several places. It's my daily driver and I don't have an immediate alternate. (I plan on adding pictures to this post in just a few minutes.)


Could this be causing the issues with my transfer case? I really want to keep this truck, I've had it since 2000.

Thank you very much!!

 

A rusted frame that is not supporting the trucks weight...
can create bind in the drive line and related components.

How bad is the rust ?
Has that rusting compromised the frame's structural integrity ?

 

Remember rusted frames can't be fixed so if the frame is really bad, you might want to consider parting it out.
Good Luck
Paul

 

I have the photos on my PC, can't figure out how to post them... could I can email them to one of you all?

Thanks!

 

I will pm some contact information.

 

Sorry for the delay OP...

 

I don't mean to be the party pooper but she is looking pretty bad under there. I'm not sure if it would be causing the T case issues, but it will be causing others in the future. I took some leaf springs off a Taco with similar rust near that hanger and after a few good wacks it just fell off completely. So be sure to keep an eye on that.

 

Thank you for posting!

On the drivers side, the gap between the bed and cab are further apart than it is on the passenger side...

 

i'm sorry but that frame looks totally done to me I wouldn't feel safe driving that on public roads

you've owned it for 16 years, did you just never notice before that it was rusted out that bad?

 

I know that road salt and water are a bad combo.
Especially when not treated or maintained (cleaned/re-painted).

I realize rusting can occur from the inside out on these frames.
But in this particular case...
The frame looks like it were corroding (rusting) from the outside.
and was left ignored for more then a few seasons.

I too have always wondered if folk took notice prior to frame degradation
and attempted any maintenance (clean up) of the corrosion before it becoming unrepairable.

No rust or road salt where I live...
But still... I clean up and repaint my frame at least once a year regardless.
Even a slight scuff - scrape to my frame's paint gets corrected asap.

Just curious if these ill treated frames would have survived longer if some maintenance were done ?

 

I looked it over about a month ago and of course there was obvious rust showing. I didn't hammer on it and it appeared to be surface rust. I didn't realize that there were flakes of rust covering up the worst of it. I hauled my 4 wheeler in the back for a few days during a quota hunt I was drawn for. During this time I also rode up and down rough roads, again with the 4 wheeler loaded in the back. That's when my transfer case problem started.

I also had it inspected TWICE by the local Toyota dealership, once in 2011 and again in 2013. They advised that it was 'in great shape' on the first inspection and then OF COURSE it wasn't covered by the time 2013 came around. Could this have set in and advanced this far, this quickly?

 

the peeling metal and scale that were covering it up probably trapped more moisture against the metal and rust probably ate through it from the outside and inside at the same time. you can visibly see where the front shackle mount has pushed up into the frame and kinked the metal, it looks like the welded on bed mount stopped it from crushing up more for now

did the dealer also do the free undercoating application? im not a corrosion expert but in 3 years daily driving its possible that it rusted out... but more than likely it had already started rusting a bit back then and at the time of inspection they figured it just wasn't enough of a problem yet which is too bad edit: thats just a total guess though I can't say for sure what it would have been like back then of course

and sorry, that really sucks, my trucks frame had lifting/peeling metal a couple years ago and i took the bed off and cleaned up the entire rear frame then por15'd, think its for sure added some years onto its life. maybe go around your entire frame with a hammer and poke with a screwdriver to see exactly what you're working with? might need to consider finding another vehicle if frame repair is not an option for you

 

The dealer didn't offer any undercoating. I found out that I should have taken it to Toyota Knoxville instead of Cookeville Toyota. IMO the location shouldn't matter.

 

Nothing that can`t be fixed I have done worse.

The question is will be cost effective to you

I can understand if one is not around these trucks how you might not notice how fast the frame can go down hill .

 

Still have the documentation regarding those earlier dealership inspections ?

Could be that particular dealership dropped the ball and did an inadequate inspection.
I think I would file a complaint with Toyota if the document trail still exists and can be verified.

It could have gotten worse since the inspection...
but I'd think it doesn't happen in just a short period.
And was probably already showing signs... but was missed.

Did the dealship treat the frame...
or just send you on your way ?

 

personally I don't think the rust could have advanced so far in just 3 years. There had to be at least some detectable sign 3 years ago. how much do you drive daily since 2013? and how often does it snow where you are? Do you launch boats in salt water or anything? Id contact toyota like these guys said and see what they say. Im not sure how they check frames or what they report when they do check them but maybe theres some kind of description of what they saw in 2013... If all else fails keep it, buy a corolla, and swap frames as a summer project

 

They didn't do any treatment, just said that it looked fine and sent me on my way. There's a record of their inspection and I emailed Toyota. Their rep called me back and i explained. Too late, they said...no longer covered, they're very sorry...

 

i am not sure if they only did the free undercoating per request, or if that was supposed to be automatically included with the inspection, maybe someone can answer that from experience

that's very unfortunate. did you contact toyota at national/corporate level or local dealer again? might consider filing a complaint either way. theres a bunch of other threads with people who have had the same issue, could try researching and try again but its well out of the 15 year mark.. bummer.

 

Me personally... I would cut out the frame's suspect areas
and weld in some new steel in it's stead.
High quality carbon steel... not yer std. mild weld type steel.

The frame does need remain flexible
and retain some memory to it's flex.

Using std mild steel may flex...
but likely will not return to it's origin.
And a sway back sagging frame would be bad.

No professional that I'm aware of will do that... due to their liability.

And so... it'd hafta' be done by it's owner.

Done right... it could suffice.
Done wrong... it could be even worse.

The inexperienced shouldn't even attempt.

 

Who's to say the rest of it isn't on its way out though? You'd end up replacing the whole frame with new steel